Jets' safety Eric Smith believes that the NFL has used him as the poster child for a crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits. "If you compare it to the other fines (to players around the league) and extent and amount of the other fines, I definitely feel that I have been made an example," Smith said Thursday. "It was a first offense, and there have been a couple of second offenses that have not been as severe (penalties) as mine." Smith, who makes $445,000 a year, was fined $50,000 and was forced to sit out the game against the Bengals last week. He attempted to appeal the suspension, but wasn't able to reverse the league's decision. "During the appeal, they told me intent wasn't looked at," Smith said. "I tried to say my intentions weren't to hit him like that and they told me intent wasn't looked at. If intent isn't involved, then why isn't every fine the same?"